anonymous 2008-07-01 21:34:01    

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I think that this song is about a real patient,I'm still right here, givin' blood, keepin' faith is about blood tests, remember Maynard´s mom, Judith, she was sick and he talks a lot about her in his songs.

Pabulum 2008-07-06 01:36:32    

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I think he is talking about someone who is an alcoholic/addict or anyone addicted to something and who is trying to live free from the addiction. They may wonder if there are any "rewards to reap" from this new life or a "loving embrace" to help them to continue down the "tedious path" that they have chosen to try. They know that there are and that is why they are going to "wait it out". It's like they have hit a snag in their sobriety and are wondering if it is "a test" and if it's not they will just go back to the old life. But they are "gonna wait it out" cause they know it will get better.

_AENIMA_ 2008-07-26 02:44:27    

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I appreciate site's like these that allow people to share their lyrical opinion's without saying who's is "right" or "wrong" so allow me to offer my interpretation :)

Basically as a whole, the song is about MJK being in band, touring, meeting fans, doing interviews and the strain it's putting on him and the "patience" he needs to go on. If you're now all sitting there thinking "Hmm I see now!", then let's go through the lyrics and analyse a bit:

"A groan of tedium escapes me, startling the fearful.
Is this a test?
It has to be. otherwise I can't go on."

He is saying is this his test? He has chosen this rockstar life and he is tedious with all the little meandering things involved with it. If it's not a test to come out better at the end, he can't do this job anymore.

"But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. And I'm still right here.
I'm gonna wait it out"

As much as he finds it tedious and straining to do be in a band he's still here in it writing and expressing about his feelings (blood), himself, and believing in the band.
He's going to wait out his impatience and see if it will go anywhere.

"If there were no rewards to reap,
no loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here,
I certainly would've walked away by now."

Now this is the part where I cry every time I listen to this son. (I can't help it!)
As I've mentioned before, although MJK finds this work mentally exhausting and and tedious, he knows that there are rewards that will come from singing in Tool. The loving embrace can be from the other members in the band as they all hug at the end of their concerts, or even perhaps his son. A loving embrace to get him through his tedious path that he's chosen. The vocalist in a successful rock band.
If he didn't have all those things he would have left the band ages ago.

"If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along this tedious path I've chosen here,
I certainly would've walked away by now."

Maynard has mentioned many times before that he doesn't put song lyrics in the cd booklets because the lyrics are open to each individuals interpretaion. If one fan gets their own meaning from one of their songs and somehow overcomes a bad period in their life, that's what they want. MJK has a desire to heal any damaged and broken people that listen to Tool's music as he cares about them.

"I still may. And I still may.
Be patient.

I must keep reminding myself of this..."

This is to remind himself that he still may leave. He must be patient and ride it all out, and keep reminding himself that he's here for a reason. As a vocalist to help people and reap rewards from doing so, but he still may leave.

and the final lyric:
"I'm gonna wait it out."

This is very close to my fav Tool song. And once you have this interpretation in mind you see the song in a whole new light and it means so much more to you. The fact that he would be this honest about leaving the band and have shown the lyrics to the other guys puts that much more emotion to it.

Well again, this is my interp. Hope you guys find it fitting :)

anonymous 2008-08-11 19:28:49    

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Hitting a rock bottom stretch in life, frustration and tedium.

The character of the song is having doubts of life...and if things should be that certain way when he says "is this a test"...that shows pure confustion of not knowing what is going on. Not knowing what is going on.

When he says is this a test its like this hard part in life is bringing him down..and he's hoping there is some kind of bigger picture behind this part in his life...thinking maybe if he succeeds this part he will earn some kind of self satisfaction or some self reward.

When he says he can't go on if its not a test.
I find him meaning that if there really is no bigger picture behind life..that if we are just here to think, feel, and see, there is no point of living.